Thirteen downtown Prairie du Chien merchants participated in a We Buy Nearby-Shop for a Cause promotion Nov. 9-11, which encouraged shoppers of those establishments to not only come out for a visit to local businesses but also to designate a portion of their sales as a charitable donation.

Each participating merchant could choose the percentage of sales from those three days that would be gifted, and the consumers could choose which of four different non-profit organizations would benefit from contribution. The four Prairie du Chien charities and the overall amount received included Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter, $586.96; Crossing Rivers Hospice, $479.13; Prairie du Chien Public Library, $170.30; and Prairie du Chien Public Schools $134.72. A total of $1,377.43 was collected via the promotion.

The Crawford County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit was patrolling the village of Gays Mills Nov. 18, when he observed a vehicle with false license plates. The deputy initiated a traffic stop at De La Mater Road and Highway 131. The driver was identified as Thomas Murphy, 31, of De Soto. Murphy was discovered to be on active probation for possession with intent to deliver marijuana. In speaking with Murphy, the deputy observed, in plain view, marijuana inside the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s department report.

K-9 Breck conducted an open, free air sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of one or more controlled substances. Murphy was then found to be in possession of numerous grams of marijuana, two opiate medications for which he did not have a valid prescription for, a digital scale and numerous items of drug paraphernalia, the report said.

Black ice was a factor in four separate Crawford County crashes Saturday, Nov. 25, according to the sheriff’s department.

•A Soldiers Grove woman was injured in a one-vehicle rollover in the town of Clayton, at about 5:40 a.m.

Heidi Dillenburg, 44, was operating a 2004 Chevy Silverado westbound on Highway 171, in Clayton Township near the Richland County line. Dillenburg swerved to miss a deer and lost control of her vehicle due to black ice on the roadway. Her vehicle went off the north side embankment, causing the vehicle to overturn and go through a fence before coming to rest in a pasture, officials said.

Dillenburg was transported to Vernon Memorial Hospital for treatment of her injuries. The vehicle sustained severe damage and was towed from the scene.

Assisting at the scene was the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Soldiers Grove Fire, North Crawford Rescue Squad and the Crawford County Highway Department.

A resolution was unanimously approved by the Prairie du Chien Common Council Nov. 21, endorsing a petition to the Office of Commissioner of Railroads to change the designation of the railroad crossing at the Villa Louis Boat Landing from a private crossing to a public crossing. Additional information will be reported at a future council meeting.

Other business
Also at the half-hour regular council meeting, the aldermen accepted proposed 2018 rates for employee health insurance, approving an increase of 2 percent to the employee and free membership to Hoffman Hall and the outdoor aquatic park for employees and family.

In other business, based on recommendations from the city planner, the council approved relocation of crosswalks, from Ohio Street to St. Lo Drive, as part of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Highway 27/Blackhawk Avenue mill and overlay project of 2021.

Crawford County K-9 Breck is pictured with items seized from a van in Gays Mills during a search Nov. 21. (Submitted photo)

Three individuals from outside Crawford County are facing drug charges after the county’s K-9 unit stopped a suspicious vehicle in the village of Gays Mills last week, according to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department.
The K-9 officer was patrolling Nov. 21, when he observed a 1994 Chevrolet Astro van that, when it pulled onto Rebecca Street, the driver turned off the headlights. The deputy made contact with the vehicle and found three occupants all hiding in the rear of the van. The occupants were identified as David Roberts, 34, and Brandy Robinson, 39, both from La Crosse, and Cassandra Neff, 30, of Fennimore. Roberts and Neff were both discovered to be on active probation for possession of methamphetamine, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.

The annual Holiday Parade presented by the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce will be held Friday, Dec. 1, at 5:30 p.m., on Blackhawk Avenue downtown. Any business or organization wishing to participate in the parade is asked to begin lining up at 5 p.m. on St. Feriole Island. There is no fee to participate. Entrants are encouraged to decorate their floats with lights and holiday scenes and play seasonal music as well.

“This festive parade in historic downtown Prairie du Chien officially kicks off the holiday season and serves as a reminder to ‘Shop Local, Shop Prairie du Chien’ this holiday season for all gift giving needs,” said Chamber CEO Bob Moses.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will make a special trip to Prairie du Chien to wish all parade-goers a “Merry Christmas.”